“He killed himself.” He nodded. “I read the paper and it told how he’d been found in his office with a signed confession on all that he’d done. He’d also mentioned in it that your mother had helped him.”
“She had. A great deal as a matter of fact. And no matter how much she’d tried to say he was lying about her involvement, there was simply too much evidence to say otherwise.” Steele was quiet for a moment or two, and Kari tried to think how that would have made him feel. She also had a feeling she was supposed to tell him something, but it was just out of her reach. He started to tell her about that day, and she sat very still wanting to know it all.
“Ray—he was with the FBI then—came to the house too. I had called them because I had a feeling that my parents would buy their way out of it if they could. And if they did, I’d be gone too. I wasn’t sure that they’d kill me, but I knew that I’d never see the light of day again. So he showed up at the house with a large crew of men and they took over.” He told her the story as if it were happening then and not twelve years ago.
“You called me in?” Steele had been put in a room with three officers. His client wandered in and out, but she never looked at him. She was more interested in the others they had found. “Wanna tell me why you went over the local’s head and called in the Feds?”
“I figured I’d live longer if I did.” Ray had laughed and Steele nodded. “My parents have a way that makes things disappear that they don’t like or can’t control. I’d just as soon not be one of their footnotes.”
“What do you know about all this?” He’d only shrugged, and Ray nodded. “The locals say you’re nuts and that you see the dead. That true?”
Steele didn’t answer him. If he thought it was a lie, how did all this happen? Ray sat down across from him after sending out the officers with him. He told her that he’d been terrified that he was going to jail.
“I’m to tell you that you’re suspected of killing these women. Did you?” He told him no. “Didn’t think so. And before you go getting all pissy with me, I’m going to take you into custody so I can keep an eye on you. I don’t trust these guys to keep you safe either.”
His mom had come into the room then, screaming at him to tell them it was a lie. She’d even managed to hit him twice before Ray took her to the floor. She was saying that she was going to have his badge before this was all over. He told her to go right ahead.
“I’ve sent some men to bring your husband home.”
“Good, he’ll get this straightened out soon enough.”
“He’s going to be arrested as a suspect in the murder of the bodies out there.”
“He did it.” She had pointed at Steele. “Tell them that you did it and I’ll make sure you are put in a very nice place. I might even have your sister put there too. You’re nothing but worthless brats anyway.”
“I didn’t do it.” His mother reached for him again, but Ray planted his knee in her back to keep her down. “The lady said Dad did it. When I asked her what happened, she pointed to the house and then the grave. I asked her if Dad did it, and she nodded.”
“Ghosts again? You’re taking his word? He fucking thinks he’s talks to dead people. And you’re believing him?” Her laughter had sounded like nails on a chalkboard. “I’m so going to ruin you for this. And Steele, when this is over, you and that fucking sister of yours will rot in hell before I lift another finger to help you.”
But a guy in a suit had come to get Steele, and as he led him to his room, the man had told him not to worry, nothing would happen to either him or Aster. Ray was as good as his word on that.
“Then Aster came to me. She explained to me that it wasn’t my fault and that she’d done it to herself.” Kari sat up and looked down at Steele as he told her the rest. “I never saw her again after that. She said that she’d done all she could and now it was up to me.” Then as clear as a bell, Kari remembered what she was supposed to tell him.
“I saw her. And your grandmother.” He frowned at her. “The day I was hurt. She came to me. She told me that I had to have you go and see your mother. And that I was to tell you that I love you and that you had to see her before it was too late.”
“You love me?” She smacked him on the arm. “Say it again. Tell me you love me again and I’ll do whatever you want.”
“Anything?” He nodded. “Good; I love you.” He smiled and she looked at him oddly. Before she could say a word, he moved to his pants and came back to her. When he sat on the bed, she could only stare at the pretty little box in his hand.
“Will you marry me?” She shook her head. “You have to, baby. I mean it. We’re going to have children, lots of them, and I want you to have my name. I love you.”